The Dirty Dozen (book)

The Dirty Dozen is a 1965 war novel written by E.M. Nathanson. The story follows Major John Reisman as he is tasked with selecting and training twelve convicted murderers and rapists from military prisons for a suicide mission. Their objective is to infiltrate a heavily fortified château in Brittany and assassinate high-ranking German officers who are scheduled to meet there. The novel explores themes of morality, justice, and the expendability of human life during wartime. It became a bestseller and served as the basis for the successful 1967 film adaptation. Nathanson drew inspiration from accounts he heard while working on a different book, though the specific historical basis remains debated. The novel's success spawned several sequels and further adaptations.